Myocyte stress 1 plays an important role in cellular hypertrophy and protection against apoptosis. FEBS letters [FEBS Lett] Journal article

Myocyte stress 1 (MS1) is a recently described striated muscle actin binding protein that is up-regulated in the early stages of pressure overload left ventricular hypertrophy. The aim of this study was to determine whether MS1 induces cellular hypertrophy and protects against apoptosis. Over-expressed MS1 co-localised with actin in H9c2 cells and altered expression of genes of the myocardin-related transcription factor/serum response factor transcriptional pathways and in addition the apoptosis repressor with caspase recruitment domain (Nol3) gene. The size of cells over-expressing MS1 was significantly increased by 55% and over-expression of MS1 dramatically inhibited staurosporine-induced apoptosis by 89%. These findings suggest the involvement of MS1 in cellular hypertrophy and protection against apoptosis.

FEBS letters [FEBS Lett]